12 closet essential staples for a classic capsule timeless wardrobe filled with basics
You know that insurmountable amount of anxiety that you feel when you’re standing in your closet, lost in a plethora of clothes realizing the ultimate tragedy. That you have nothing to wear! That’s a moment that makes you want to throw in the towel and just figure out how you have failed yourself. All I’m hearing about lately is that so many women are struggling to have anything to wear in their wardrobes, or that there’s limited styling opportunities with pieces they currently own. Switching up your look and keeping things fresh makes you feel good, and that’s the best accessory anyone could wear. Admittedly, I learned this holy grail hack years ago and have saved myself from the disparity more times than I can count, but I’ve also saved TONS of money! That’s right! The all mighty dollar!! Now that I’ve cracked the code, I have to share the hack! After all..gorgeous, gorgeous girls don’t gate-keep information.
Sorting through all the information about fashion and jewelry can be an overwhelming task. It’s hard enough to describe your own personal style as it is!! Let’s keep things simple. Why over complicate things? With so much information out there, how can you choose what will help you the most? That’s where I come in! I’m giving you the best tips so you can invest in quality pieces that will LAST! Without further ado, let’s talk the 12 closet staples you need!!
I’m going to let you in on a little secret. The reason that you don’t have anything to wear in your closet full of clothes is because you don’t have basics. Ladies, you need the basics, and then you can tie in the funky, daring pieces. With a little creativity, basics can stand out with even the slightest twist! The 12 basics every women needs in her closet to achieve any look! Basics = Essentials
- 1. First, a black and white tank top. They are so versatile! They can literally meet you where you are at for any occasion, and are easily dressed up or dressed down. This is something that can even be thrown underneath a blazer, or even sweatpants. Absolutely anything, the opportunities are endless! These are the number one must haves!
- 2. The next thing you must have is the perfect pair of jeans. All you need to do is find the jean that is your go to! Every brand fits a bit different, but invest in a quality denim, it will pay off in the long run. You will wear them everyday and they will certainly last for years and years. Jeans that you can wear all the time, whether you’re feeling bloated or your best self, you put these babies on! Below are my favorite jeans of all time, in fact I am wearing them as I type this post! They are Rag and Bone. They usually run a little on the smaller size with their sizing, just so you know. I hope that helps!
- 3. Okay, a little black dress is a necessity for your closet. I don’t care what style, any black mini dress is perfect. You can wear it with boots, sneakers, heels, anything and you have 10 different looks, it’s too easy! Perfect for going out with the girls, or going out for brunch. You name it! Just pair with some heels for date night or sneakers to dress it down. This is so transformative and easy to wear 100 different ways! Mine is from Zara, and it was literally on sale yesterday, but I have not checked again…sorry!!!
- 4. Also, a white button down is a must! It’s so easy to dress down, or even dress up for a more sophisticated appearance! It brings that chic, clean girl aesthetic, and I think it looks expensive since it has that high fashion appeal.
- 5. Oh, my favorite staple that there is *insert chefs kiss*! The oversized blazer! I love this because not only is it incredibly comfortable, it also delivers that desirable high fashion look that we are all chasing! Don’t get me wrong, I love a matching sweat suit as much as the next girl, but the versatility of an oversized blazer is endless. Sophisticated, clean, chic, casual, smart, meticulous, the list of adjectives is long but it will meet you where you are at. Throw it over a simple white body suit with some trousers and you have that boss lady appearance, trade out the trousers for some leather pants or loose fitting jeans and a heel and you have after work drinks! Keeping things simple yet highly fashionable and effortless is what we are reaching for!
- 6. Obsessed is an understatement for a cozy black cashmere turtleneck sweater! Comfort is the top priority in my book. If I’m not comfortable, I will be self conscious all day long. Firstly, black looks good on everybody (let’s face it). Cashmere is so soft and cozy, additionally, it’s high quality so it’s made to last. Mine is French Connection. I love the length of this sweater! It’s not cropped, and it’s not an oversized fit either. Perfect for date night with a leather jacket, paired with trousers for work, or even a little skirt and white sneakers for a shopping day! Literally, anything.
- 7. Leather Jacket or Leather Pants. This is something you will always come back to. I swear I wear my leather flare pants from Wilfred’s every weekend. You have to invest in this piece for your collection or you will be constantly replacing pieces that rip. Personally, I’m a sucker for leather jackets but a classic leather pant is never going out of style either and we are seeing this A LOT! It’s definitely bringing that chic New York street style that we are all craving!
- 8. Trousers. Oh the sweet sophistication and serendipity of trousers. Most people associate this piece of apparel with work, but I am here to combat that popular belief. First and foremost, trousers are a bit more forgiving than jeans, there’s some give to them, so on bloated days, a must! I just think they are so comfortable! Add sneakers with some loose fit trousers and a crop top, and you just gave casual a new definition. My personal favorite is a strappy heel tied OVER the pant leg. It adds so much while saying so little! It brings dimension and adds a little creativity, which never goes unnoticed in my book!
- 9. White Sneaker // Black Boot. If you could only wear one pair of shoes for the rest of your life, 9 women out of 10 will pick either a white sneaker or black bootie. There is no in between. Well, with the exception of the women that pick ankle Uggs, but enough with technicalities! These shoes go with everything and make a statement, not just any statement, THE statement. Trousers, jeans and a tee, oh what the hell! Even a mini dress will look good with either of these staples! This is a must. I highly recommend adidas for a white sneaker and Jeffrey Campbell for a bootie that you cannot go wrong with! I have the unpopular opinion here and prefer a dirty white shoe to a pure white, so kindly disregard the shade of beige that has developed if that’s not your thing!
- 10. Matching set. All hail divinity and her gloried greatness! Listen, matching sets have the ability to bring you from 0-100 so fast! You will be feeling like THAT girl as soon as you catch a glimpse of yourself walking by a mirror! The simplicity is what gets me here, there is literally no matching AT ALL! It’s done for you! (Not that I have this issue anyway since I suffer from devotion to neutrals. My entire wardrobe can be mixed and matched! I like to take out the complexity and stick to color themes, cool and warm. Some call it obsession, some call it color phobia, I call it pure devotion.)
- 11. Hoops // Ring // Dainty Chain. Jewelry is game changing. I have this burning love for jewels. Jewelry makes everything look expensive, polished, and so well thought out you could walk out the door in nearly anything and it would still make you look fabulous. If you are just starting your jewelry collection, these are my capsule pieces. A pair of perfectly sized hoops, a unique stacking ring, and a dainty chain (I live a pendant, but you can certainly opt for a simple chain). Of course, all my favorite pieces are from my own collection BAISAM, but I know the quality of the pieces and how amazing the designs are that I have to recommend these pieces! My hoops are gold filled, they have baguette CZ gemstones around them for added sparkle. I wear these every day of my life! Jewelry just makes you feel so put together! My ring is a gold vermeil dainty horseshoe ring. it’s perfect for stacking with others while making a statement! It’s a great start for your capsule collection! It goes with everything and gives you extra sparkle! What more could you ask for (other than a necklace that does the same thing). My necklace is gold vermeil. It’s a simple dainty paperclip chain. It’s great for layering and it elevates any look, even pajamas! It’s makes you feel like you are top of the world!
- 12. Simple Shoulder Bag. That Brittany Spears, Lindsey Lohan, Paris Hilton 90s vibe! A classic! I can’t help but feel like I walked out of a time capsule with this accessory, and the best part, it’s not going anywhere! Okay story time, I have thrifted all my shoulder bags but one. There are an over abundance of great second hand shoulder bags out there if you’re willing to put in a little work for them! It’s great for going out with the girls so you’re not carrying an entire extension of your vanity! I love adding a pop of color with my shoulder bags! Mine posted below is from a small leather shop in Sorrento, Italy, but the rest of my collection has come from Goodwill or Second Time Around!
Recognizing the basics has allowed me to invest in the things that I can really express myself with. Accessories bring a basic look to fabulous look. Details, details, details. That’s all I have to say. It keeps things unique, you’re not just some Joe Shmoe, you’re an original masterpiece that can never be recreated. Invest in basics so you can splurge on the details. Share your individuality with the world. Your art can’t go unnoticed.
After shopping the collection, and splurging on your details, it’s so important to properly care for these precious metals. Personally, I struggled with storing my accessories and jewelry in a secure way. I always seemed to resort to bins, until I learned to love my jewels as much as they love me! Be cautious of the way all of your personal jewelry gets stored together. Using boxes, hooks, holders, and compartments are very effective for ensuring the pieces stay separated. I have this beautiful armoire that I purchased from Amazon for a reasonable price and it couldn’t have been a better purchase! My exact one is no longer available, however I linked a similar one below!!
Avoid making my mistakes, and try not to just throwing them into a box in an unorganized manner. Not only will your necklaces become hopelessly tangled, you risk harming any fragile pieces as they bump and scrape against each other as you search the box.
Pro tip: Occasionally I will purchase small dishes at GoodWill, and scatter them around my house. They have cute wood patterns and crystal dishes that can be kept by your night stand, next the sinks, etc. This way it’s easy to remove any jewelry while cleaning or showering to maximize the longevity of your jewels! I love emptying all the dishes around my home of my jewelry before bed to make sure the jewels are properly stored in the armoire, aka all tucked in bed! It’s a little ritual that is so sacred to me.
I encourage you all to store your jewelery in a space that is dry and doesn't have any air flow. To ensure it is protected, I like to keep my jewelry in a drawstring bag inside jewelry box that is closed, lights out, sweet dreams beauties! Tarnish is a chemical reaction that happens when silver and other metals are exposed to moisture and air. While precious metals can be polished back to their original luster, non-precious metals are only coated in which case polishing causes the copper or other metals underneath to show through.
Staying educated, and keeping an open mind for new tricks and ideas is a great way to ensure you know everything you need to select great jewelry and elevate your wardrobe, while keep it in amazing condition. Having read this article, you should be ready to start your search for that right piece and all your essentials. It’s time for you to have 101 outfits for 101 different occasions, while saving $$$ so you can splurge on quality, and even more occasions for your killer closet! Make sure to sign up for our news letter! We have loads of great information provided here every Sunday! Follow us on socials to stay up to date with all things BAISAM jewelry and exclusive offers! Style and jewelry success is yours for the taking.
